Lord President of the Court of Session
{{Short description|Most senior judge in Scotland}}
{{redirect|Lord Justice General|the Lord Justice General of Ireland|Lords Justices of Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Lord President of the
Court of Session
and
Lord Justice General
of Scotland
| native_name = {{langx|gd|Àrd-mhorair Cùirt an t-Seisein}}
| body =
| insignia = Logo of the lord president.svg
| insigniasize = 200
| insigniacaption = Logo of the Lord President of the Court of Session
| image = Paul Cullen, Lord Pentland.png
| incumbent = Lord Pentland
| incumbentsince = 3 February 2025
| style = The Right Honourable
| appointer = Monarch on the advice of the First Minister
| termlength = Life tenure with compulsory retirement at 75
| formation = 1532
| deputy = Lord Justice Clerk
| succession =
| inaugural = Alexander Mylne, Abbot of Cambuskenneth
| website = [http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/17/0/Roles-and-Jurisdiction Roles and Jurisdiction {{!}} Judicial Office for Scotland]
| salary = £222,862 (Salary Group 1.1)
}}
The Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General ({{langx|gd|Àrd-mhorair Cùirt an t-Seisein}}) is the most senior judge in Scotland, the head of the judiciary, and the presiding judge of the College of Justice, the Court of Session, and the High Court of Justiciary. The Lord President holds the title of Lord Justice General of Scotland and the head of the High Court of Justiciary ex officio, as the two offices were combined in 1836. The Lord President has authority over any court established under Scots law, except for the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Court of the Lord Lyon.
The current Lord President of the Court of Session is Lord Pentland, who was appointed to the position on 3 February 2025 succeeding Lord Carloway They are paid according to salary group 1.1 of the Judicial Salaries Scale, which in 2016 was £222,862.
Remit and jurisdiction
= Head of the judiciary =
As Lord President of the Court of Session and is the most senior judge in Scotland, the head of the judiciary, and the presiding judge of the College of Justice, and the Court of Session.{{Cite legislation Scotland|type=act|year=2008|chapter=6|act=Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008}}{{rp|Section 2(1)}} Under Section 2(6) of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, the Lord President has authority over the judiciary of any court established under Scots law, except for the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Court of the Lord Lyon.{{Blockquote|References in this section to the Scottish judiciary are references to the judiciary of any court established under the law of Scotland (other than the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom).|Section 2(5)|Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008{{rp|Section 2(5)}}}} The Scottish Land Court, which until 1 April 2017 was administered separately, was transferred to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|year=2017|number=88|ssi=The Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (Scottish Land Court) Order 2017}} The 2008 act states:
{{blockquote|The Lord President is the Head of the Scottish Judiciary.|Section 2(1)|Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008{{rp|Section 2(1)}}}}
The Lord President is supported by the Judicial Office for Scotland which was established on 1 April 2010 as a result of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008, and the Lord President chairs the corporate board of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.{{rp|Schedule 3}} The Lord President, and the wider judiciary, is advised on matters relating to the administration of justice by the Judicial Council for Scotland, which is a non-statutory body established in 2007. There had been plans for a statutory judges' council but these plans were abandoned in favour of a non-statutory council convened by the Lord President.{{cite web|title=Strengthening Judicial Independence in a Modern Scotland – Chapter 4 – Judges' Council|url=http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2006/01/30154152/6|website=www.gov.scot|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 April 2017|language=en-gb|date=8 February 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404044328/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2006/01/30154152/6|archive-date=4 April 2017}}{{cite web|title=Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill – Policy Memorandum|url=http://www.parliament.scot/S3_Bills/Judiciary%20and%20Courts%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b6s3-introd-pm.pdf|website=parliament.scot|publisher=The Scottish Parliament|access-date=3 April 2017|page=7|language=en|date=30 January 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404043921/http://www.parliament.scot/S3_Bills/Judiciary%20and%20Courts%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b6s3-introd-pm.pdf|archive-date=4 April 2017}}{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Judicial Council for Scotland|url=http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/Upload/Documents/07DECJudicialCouncilConstitution.pdf|website=judiciary-scotland.org.uk|publisher=Judicial Office for Scotland|access-date=3 April 2017|language=en|date=2007|quote=The Judicial Council for Scotland ("the Council") is a body constituted for the purpose of providing information and advice to— (a) the Lord President of the Court of Session ("the Lord President"); and (b) the judiciary of Scotland, on matters relevant to the administration of justice in Scotland.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924085447/http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/Upload/Documents/07DECJudicialCouncilConstitution.pdf|archive-date=24 September 2015}}
= Inner House =
The Lord President presides over the 1st Division of the Inner House of the Court of Session.{{cite web|title=About the Court of Session|url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/supreme-courts/about-the-court-of-session|website=www.scotcourts.gov.uk|publisher=Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service|access-date=2 April 2017|quote=The Inner House is in essence the appeal court, though it has a small range of first instance business. It is divided into the First and the Second Divisions, of equal authority, and presided over by the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk respectively.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314090907/http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/supreme-courts/about-the-court-of-session|archive-date=14 March 2017}} The Inner House is the part of the Court of Session which acts as a court of appeal for cases decided the Outer House and Sheriff Appeal Court, and hearing appeals on questions of law from the Sheriff Appeal Court, Scottish Land Court, Court of the Lord Lyon, and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.{{Cite journal |title=Court of Session Act 1988 |periodical=Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/36/part/V |publisher=The National Archives |volume=1988 |issue=36 |page=V |access-date=20 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421095609/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/36/part/V |archive-date=21 April 2017 }}{{cite report|title=Policy Memorandum, Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill|author=Scottish Government|publisher=Scottish Parliament|date=6 February 2014|access-date=20 April 2017|url=http://www.parliament.scot/S4_Bills/Courts%20Reform%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b46s4-introd-pm.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421093813/http://www.parliament.scot/S4_Bills/Courts%20Reform%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b46s4-introd-pm.pdf|archive-date=21 April 2017}}
= Official Oath =
In Scotland the Official Oath is taken before the Lord President of the Court of Session.{{Cite journal| title=Schedule, Promissory Oaths Act 1868| url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/31-32/72/schedule| periodical=Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom| year=1868| volume=72| page=Schedule| access-date=20 April 2017| publisher=The National Archives| quote=The oath as to England is to be tendered by the Clerk of the Council, and taken in presence of Her Majesty in Council, or otherwise as Her Majesty shall direct. The oath as to Scotland is to be tendered by the Lord President of the Court of Session at a sitting of the Court.| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421090829/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/31-32/72/schedule| archive-date=21 April 2017| df=dmy-all}}
=Lord Justice General=
The Lord President is also the Lord Justice General of Scotland and the head of the High Court of Justiciary ex officio, with the two offices having been combined in 1836.The office of Lord Justice General is derived from the justiciars who were appointed from at least the twelfth century. From around 1567 onwards it was held heritably by the Earl of Argyll until the heritability was resigned to the Crown in 1607.{{citation | title=Section 18, Court of Session Act 1830| url=http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/documents/1830/69/ukpga| periodical=Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom| volume=69| page=18| quote=Office of lord justice general to devolve on lord president.| date=23 July 1830}}
Officeholders
{{CourtsScotland}}
= Justiciars =
{{See also|Justiciar of Scotia|Justiciar of Lothian}}
(called Lord Chief Justices by Scot of Scotstarvet).
- Argadus, Captain of Argyll, in the reign of Ethodius
- Comes Dunetus; in the reign of King William the Lion. (Donnchad II, Earl of Fife)
- William Comyn
- Richard Comyn
- David, Earl of Huntingdon (died 1219)
- Walter Clifford, Justiciary of the Lothians
- 1216: Allan, Justiciary to King Alexander II
- 1224: William Cumin, Earl of Buchan
- Walter (died 1241), son of Allan High Steward of Scotland
- 1239: William, Earl of Ross, "Lord Chief Justice of Scotland"
- Alexander (d.1283), High Steward of Scotland to King Alexander II
- 1253: Alexander Cumin, Earl of Buchan
- 1366: Robert de Erskine, Justiciary South of the Forth for King David II
- bef 1372: Alan de Lawedre of The Bass, Whitslaid, & Haltoun, Justiciary South of the Forth, (he received a pension for holding this post in 1374).
- 1437: James Douglas, Earl of Avondale and Lord Balveny{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun03pauluoft#page/172/mode/2up |title= The Scots peerage : Founded on Wood's ed. Of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom|website=archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411075950/https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun03pauluoft |archive-date=11 April 2016}}
- 1446: Patrick de Ogilvy, Justiciary South of the Forth
- 1457: John, Lord Lindsay of the Byres, Justiciary South of the Forth
- William Sinclair, 3rd Earl of Orkney & Caithness (d.1480), Justiciary North of the Forth for King James II
- 1477: John Haldane of Gleneagles, Justiciary North of the Forth
- Patrick Hepburn, 1st Lord Hailes (died after 1482), and Robert, 2nd Lord Lyle, Justiciaries South of the Forth
- Andrew, Earl of Crawfurd, and George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly, Justiciaries North of the Forth
- 1488: Robert Lyle, 2nd Lord Lyle (died {{Circa|1497}}), "Lord Chief Justice"
- 1489: John Lyon, 3rd Lord Glamis (died 1 April 1497), and John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond: "Justice-General"
- 1492: Robert Lyle, 2nd Lord Lyle, and John Lyon, 3rd Lord Glamis
- 1494: John Drummond, 1st Lord Drummond (died c1519)
- 1504: Andrew Gray, 2nd Lord Gray, and John Kennedy, 2nd Lord Kennedy
- 1514: Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll
- 1526: Archibald Douglas of Kilspindie
- 1532: Alexander Mylne, Abbot of Cambuskenneth
- 1537: Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll
- 1567: Sir Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll, (d.1584) (heritably)
- 1578: Sir Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll, (re-appointment?)
- 1589: Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, (who exchanged the heritable office of Lord Chief Justice in 1607, for the heritable Lieutenancy of Argyll and Lorn, and most of The Isles).
=Lord Justice-General=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| || From || Until || Remarks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The 7th Earl of Menteith and 1st Earl of Airth | 11 July 1628 | 8 November 1633 | |
| Sir William Elphinstone | 23 December 1635 | 13 November 1641 | |
| Sir Thomas Hope, younger of Kerse | 18 November 1641 | 23 August 1643 | |
| The 8th Earl of Glencairn | 13 November 1646 | 15 February 1649 | |
| The 6th Earl of Cassilis | 15 March 1649 | 9 August 1651 | |
| The 2nd Earl of Atholl | 16 August 1661 | 21 May 1675 | |
| The 5th Earl of Moray | 21 May 1675 | 5 May 1676 | |
| The Lord Carrington | 5 May 1676 | 30 September 1678 | |
| The Lord Tarbat | 30 September 1678 | 1 June 1680 | |
| The 3rd Earl of Queensberry | 1 June 1680 | 1 March 1682 | |
| The 4th Earl of Perth | 1 March 1682 | 13 June 1684 | |
| The 3rd Earl of Linlithgow | 13 June 1684 | 3 August 1689 | |
| The 4th Earl of Lothian | 3 August 1689 | 15 February 1703 | |
| The 1st Earl of Cromartie | 17 October 1704 | 23 October 1710 | |
| The 3rd Duke of Argyll and 1st Earl of Ilay | 23 October 1710 | 15 April 1761 | |
| The 4th Marquess of Tweeddale | 27 June 1761 | 9 December 1762 | |
| The 3rd Duke of Queensberry | 15 April 1763 | 22 October 1778 | |
| The 2nd Earl of Mansfield | 23 October 1778 | 1794 | |
| The 3rd Duke of Montrose | 14 January 1795 | 30 December 1836 |
=Lord President=
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Court of Session}}
{{High Court of Justiciary}}
{{CourtsScotland2}}
{{Great_Officers_of_State_in_the_United_Kingdom}}
{{Scotland topics}}
{{Chief Justices of British overseas territories}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord President of the Court of Session}}